wrcmad said:Not a claim. Investopedia definition does not imply a 'claim' either.Porcello said:wrcmad said:Wrong.
Futures are NOT "only a way to speculate on commodity prices".
Futures are not "claims on physical".
We need to change the definition in investopedia, then:
DEFINITION of 'Futures'
A financial contract obligating the buyer to purchase an asset (or the seller to sell an asset), such as a physical commodity or a financial instrument, at a predetermined future date and price. Futures contracts detail the quality and quantity of the underlying asset; they are standardized to facilitate trading on a futures exchange. Some futures contracts may call for physical delivery of the asset, while others are settled in cash.
My sentence was also obviously incorrect, sorry for that, not ALL the futures are only a way to speculate. Are futures in gold/silver not a claim on underlying physical (to offload or to acquire) that is usually settled in cash instead of transfer of physical?
Futures are merely a contract to buy or sell at a predetermined price and date.
This contract is reversible, and in no way constitutes a claim of ownership - rather, it is somewhat analogous to a deposit or down-payment.
Ownership (or claim) is only transferred if delivery is exercised and settled - which then becomes a purchase.
Sorry, I'm not a native speaker... I must have used a non appropriate term.